Biodiv Sci ›› 2015, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (1): 101-108.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2014156

Special Issue: 昆虫多样性与生态功能

• Research Bulletins • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preference of Laelia coenosa for native and introduced populations of invasive Spartina alterniflora

Ma Ding1, Ju Ruiting1,2, Li Bo1,*()   

  1. 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438
    2 Department of Plant Protection, Shanghai Landscape Gardening Research Institute, Shanghai 200232
  • Received:2014-07-17 Accepted:2014-10-08 Online:2015-01-20 Published:2015-05-04
  • Contact: Li Bo

Abstract:

Exotic plants may modify their resistance to herbivory in response to new phytophagous insects in their introduced ranges. Studying the variation in such resistance may help us understand the in-depth mechanisms of plant invasions. Spartina alterniflora is one of the most serious invasive plants in China’s coastal salt marshes. Investigating how S. alterniflora responds to the phytophagous insects in the introduced ranges may partially explain the mechanism of its invasion success. We conducted choice tests under controlled conditions to compare the preferences of Laelia coenosa (native to China) for native (US) and introduced (China) S. alterniflora populations. In relation to smell, caterpillars of L. coenosa did not show any preference for native or introduced populations, but the relative choice index for taste of native populations was significantly higher than that of introduced populations. This feeding preference of the caterpillars for populations of the plant from its native range suggests that S. alterniflora has altered its defense against the native phytophagous insects in their introduced range, thereby reducing insect herbivore attacks.

Key words: herbivory, Laelia coenosa, plant invasion, preference, resistance, Spartina alterniflora